A Hospital-based Clinical Study of Various Cutaneous and Venereal Diseases in Pregnancy

Pregnancy can affect the skin in numerous ways. Further, it can impact the clinical course and successional changes of long-standing skin diseases. Thus, classifying pregnancy dermatosis into physiological, general and specific categories may give a proper understanding of the diseases and their outcomes.

To demonstrate the clinical aspect and frequency of various cutaneous and venereal diseases observed during pregnancy.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy in Tamil Nadu for 2 years from November 2019 to October 2021. The study included 114 pregnant women who attended the outpatient department (OPD) as well as inpatients and referral cases from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. All data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 and tabulated based on age, gravida, trimester and diseases.

Of 114 cases encountered, 21 (18.4%) were of specific dermatosis, 23 (20.2%) of infections, 56 (49.1%) of sexually transmitted infections and 14 (12.3%) of non-specific dermatosis. Incidence was higher in primigravida (68.4%) than in multigravida (31.6%). Here, the most frequent specific dermatosis of pregnancy reported was pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPP) (10.5%). We also reported scabies (6.1%) and seropositive venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) with TPHA+ (13.2%) as the most common infection and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), respectively.

A prospective collaborative study of all skin and venereal diseases in pregnancy is required for better understanding, earlier diagnosis, more favourable outcome and optimal treatment.